KIA Niro EV

Niro EV is another tick in the right box from KIA

The Niro EV was launched in autumn and we were given an opportunity to drive one just as the temperatures began to drop, says Andrew Walker. The petrol and plug-ins were very impressive but how did the electric Niro perform?

Model range and engines

Niro EV comes with a choice of three electrified powertrains – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric –and three trim levels, designated ‘2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’. We were testing the Electric model in ‘2’ trim. It’s powered by a 64.8kWh Li-ion polymer battery offering a maximum 150kW of power. Like all electric vehicles, the battery is located under the floor and adds some significant weight to the car, in this case 443kg.

What’s new?

It’s built on Kia’s third generation ‘K’ platform, which has been specifically engineered to accommodate the three available powertrains.

The K architecture allows for various battery mounting options depending on the powertrain; beneath the rear seats for the HEV, under the boot floor on the PHEV variants and centrally for the EV version.

The new Niro has also received suspension and steering improvements and additional insulation and padding have been inserted around the vehicle’s structure to help combat unwanted engine and road noise.

Exterior

This is a much better proportioned car than the outgoing model. At the front there is the latest evolution of Kia’s signature ‘Tiger Face’, which now extends to the front wings. The windscreen features a double-cowl design where the top and bottom mirror each other. Angular ‘Heartbeat’ daytime running lights, skid plates, boomerang rear lights and an aero C-pillar towards the rear also feature.

Customers can choose from eight exterior colours and a choice of ‘C’ pillar colours that contrast or complement the body colour.

On the EV version, the power socket is located at the front of the car. Otherwise it looks very much like the ICE versions.

The standard spec is good. Niro ‘2’ grades feature 17” alloys, Start/Stop with Smart entry, automatic LED headlights, an electric hand brake, climate control, rear parking sensors and camera, an 8.0” touchscreen display with DAB radio, six speakers, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with a 10.25” TFT LCD cluster.

Safety

The all-new Niro comes equipped with Kia’s ADAS system known as DriveWise. So you get Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go functionality as standard on all grades. Lane Follow Assist, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and Lane Keep Assist are also included across the range. Front sensors, Highway Driving Assist and Blind-spot Collision Avoidance Assist are included on ‘3’ and ‘4’ grades, with Parking Collision Avoidance Assist and Remote Smart Park Assist on ‘4’ versions.

Interior and infotainment

The interior is in keeping with Kia’s new design philosophy so you get an upmarket finish with good quality plastics used throughout. The dashboard on ‘2’ grade, is dominated by the car’s infotainment and instrument cluster screens, which stretch across two-thirds of the car.

Below the central touchscreen sits the car’s multi-mode display. This replaces physical buttons with a dedicated ‘haptic’ touchscreen, providing shortcuts to control the cars climate control, infotainment and SatNav.

The good news is that you don’t need to delve into too many sub-menus to choose what you want. It’s easy to work, with a small arrow which, when pushed, switches from climate to the car’s functions and helps free up dashboard space.

Practicality

Up front you get twin cupholders between the front seats. On some versions the cup holders rotate outwards and can be pushed back in when not needed, creating more space in the cabin. In front of this you get two USB connections and a 12v socket. The door pockets will also hold a bottle, but the glove box is slim. The front armrest lifts up to add more storage. Front and rear head and legroom is good as well.

The cabin now offers an integrated hanger-type design within the headrests, allowing clothing or bags to be hooked into

place. Sitting next to these are twin USB ‘C’ inputs located on the inside of the front seat sides.

The cabin is more spacious than any previous Niro and 60:40 split rear seats fold down by pulling a lever leading to a maximum load space of 1,392 litres. The boot floor can also be lifted to reveal some useful storage space underneath, perfect for charging cables. The battery is cleverly spread under the car’s boot floor so the boot capacity actually great in the EV than other versions of the Niro.

Warranty

Kia is famous for its warranties and the Niro EV is no different. So you get a seven-year / 100,000 mile warranty (or three years and unlimited mileage), anti-perforation warranty (12 yrs/unlimited mileage), a paint warranty (five years/ 100,000 miles) and one-year Kia Roadside Assistance.

Charging and range

Niro Electric features an onboard 11kW charging system and the capability of charging on AC and DC units. On our 7.2kW Rolec Smart charger a full charge would take 9 hours 25 minutes. On a faster 11kW AC charger this reduces to 6 hours 20 minutes. Stop off at the most common public 50kW charger and this comes down to 1 hour 5 minutes. The claimed WLTP range on the Niro EV is 285 miles.

On the road

Niro Electric may be the heaviest Niro in the gang but thanks to the acceleration associated with electric cars, it’s actually the most fun to drive, at least in a straight line. It will only take 7.8 seconds to hit 62mph and will go on to a top speed of 103mph.

On the motorway it’s an excellent performer and along with the larger KIA EV6 you can drive at 70mph and still get a decent return on your battery range. As an example we travelled 90 miles on the motorway at a constant 70mph and used up 96 miles of our Niro’s range.

With the standard adaptive cruise control the EV makes light of long journeys. On A and B-roads the electric Niro performed well, handling corners and adjusting to road situations with aplomb. The battery weight is noticeable, but it’s so well distributed you’d be hard-pressed to complain about it spoiling the car’s ride.

Pros

The low BIK makes it a company car choice. Great cabin, latest tech and safety fitted as standard. It’s also a much better looking car than the previous Niro, with plenty of cabin space for five. As a bonus the boot is larger too. Finally, the battery range is at the top of what you can get in an electric car.

Cons

The infotainment screens small compared to rivals. Even though the battery doesn’t spoil the ride it’s actually a bit vanilla when it comes to fun.

Conclusion

We always felt that the old Niro EV felt heavy, especially on winding roads. Thankfully, the new version doesn’t and feels much more pleasant to drive. The new Niro also comes fitted with a larger battery and offers a bigger range. Furthermore, all models feature a top-class cabin with excellent safety and infotainment features, with almost all of it standard across the range. For company car drivers and fleet managers alike, the EV offers an unbeatable BIK of just two per cent.

CC&V VERDICT

Kia can do no wrong at moment and is producing cars that tick every box, especially in the company vehicle sector

CC&V RATING:

N N N N N